Master of Deception

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

“Unang misyon natin ‘to kaya dapat walang palpak,” Zyan said acting up like our leader. Well, siya naman talaga ang dapat maging leader. Like I've said, he have the traits of being our Alpha.

“I already hacked the CCTV cameras. You now have eyes everywhere,” sabi ni Cosmo.

Napa-oh nalang ako matapos marinig yun mula kay Cosmo. What can I say, he is the hacker. Hindi lang si Finn yung matalino dito, pati na rin si Cosmo. They are incredibly amazing and cool in their own ways. Mamamangha ka nalang talaga when you see them in action.

“Brit,” tawag sa akin kay Finn kaya agad akong lumapit sa kanya.

“Yeah?” I replied.

“You’re wearing contacts, right?” tanong niya kaya pinang-kunotan ko siya ng noo.

“Oo, bakit?” he sounds eager.

“Here,” may inabot siya sa aking maliit na box. “Wear this instead.”

“Ano ‘to?” tanong ko at inabot yung box.

“They are contact lenses. If ever things don’t go with the plan and a black out happens, at least you got this buddy,” he explained.

Kunot-noo kong binuksan yun box at tumambad sa akin yung isang pair ng contact lenses. They look typical contact lenses to me. But knowing Finn, things are not typical as what they seems.

“Then what does it do?” tanong ko.

“Well, kapag may black out unfortunately you can’t see anything, right?” he asked then I nodded. “With that lenses you can see thermal energy. Your reflexes are no doubt magnificent, but without sight, they are nothing.”

I was awed by his explanation. Grabeng bata ‘to. Ang tali-talino naman! Siguro nasa one-fourth yung katalinuhan ko sa kanya. Baka hindi lang one fourth. Baka one-eighth pa nga. See? Our team is composed of brains ang skills. Tama nga si Eutace. He chose the best.

Hindi na ako nagdalawang-isip at sinuot yung contact lenses saka ko kinuha mula sa purse kong dala yung salamin.

“Wow! Ang ganda!” I exclaimed..

Totoo! Mas maganda yung mga mata ko na ito yung gamit kumpara dun sa sinuot ko kanina.

“Finn you’re a genius!” napayakap ako sakanya dahil sa pagkasabik.

Kung sobrang ganda ko ganina, ngayon umaapaw na sa ganda. Not bragging pero totoo naman talaga na maganda ako. Tanga lang ang magsasabing hindi.

“Britta!” sita ni Cosmo. “Akala ko ba bawal yung hug!” pagmamaktol niya.

Luh? Kung makapagsita ito parang si Mama lang? Exagge?

“Na-excite lang ako, okey?” natatawa kong sabi.

Seloso naman nito. He frowned as he focused on his laptop. Nasa van kasi kami ngayon, hinihintay yung tamang timing para isagawa yung misyon.

Well, that's according to Zyan's plan. Siya lang naman yung ulo nito.

“Tsk,” rinig kog asik ni Zyan.

Speaking of.

Luh, problema ng isang ‘to?

Binigay na ni Finn yung earpiece namin saka agad naming sinuot. I checked myself once again sa salamin at nag-retouch.

“Let’s go,” aya ko ni Zyan saka kami lumabas ng van.

Kaming dalawa lang ni Zyan ang lumabas kasi kaming dalawa lang naman ang kayang makipaglaban. Cosmo is acting up like our eyes because he can access the CCTV Cameras habang si Finn naman ay kasama ni Cosmo sa van. Sana nga lang hindi sila mag-aaway nang wala pa ako.

“You don’t have to put too much make up,” he whispered.

I frowned. Mahirap bang sabihin na ang ganda ko ngayon? Mahirap ba yun?

Teka, ilang beses ko ma ba nabanggit ang salitang maganda ngayong araw na ito? Hahaha. Ah basta! I can repeat that pretty word as many times as I want.

“What’s wrong with it? I feel pretty today,” I said it with confidence. Feel ko talaga babaeng-babae ako ngayon! Minsan lang ‘to!

He only sighed saka binalik yung atensyon sa dinadaanan namin. Habang papalapit kami sa b****a ng venue ay hindi ko maiwasang hindi kabahan. Naramdaman ko na nga yung panlalamig ng mga kamay ko.

Huminga ako nang malalim nang nasa harap na kami ng b****a.

"Are you ready?" tanong sa akin ni Zyan.

Huminga ulit ako ng malalim bagi ko siya nilingon.

"Ready," I smiled.

Tumango siya at bahagyang ngumiti. Napalunok ako dun. Why does he have this effect on me?

Mas lalong tumambol yung dibdib ko nang tuluyan na naming pinasok yung venue. Humigpit ang kapit ko kay Zyan. Naramdaman niya siguro yun kasi I felt his warm breath behind my ear.

"Don't worry," he whispered. "I'm here."

Nagtataasan yung mga balahibo ko sa batok the moment I heard his husky voice. Ugh.

Ipinilig ko yung ulo ko just to erase those thoughts away. Why would I think of those stuffs? Anyway, inilibot ko yung mga mata ko sa paligid.

Isang party and dinalo namin. The party was about merging two companies together. Wala akong alam kung kaninong company ang mga ito. We just managed to gate crash dahil kay Cosmo. He always have ways on things. Simple lang para sa kanya ang mga ganito.

Isa lang naman ang pinunta namin dito, si Marcos Gregorio. Crowd of people but one targeted person. He have the key of the west. All we have to do is to get it from him. Easy said than done.

We can’t just take it away from him. We need a plan. A risky yet effective plan.

People were all wearing suits and dresses that screams authority. Filthy rich people.

En grande yung interior ng venue at talagang pinaghandaan. Looking at it tells that they invited elite people with good backgrounds. Business tycoons, politicians, celebrities, models, influencers and those kind of people.

The high class.

“That’s Gregorio,” Zyan whispered.

Iginala ko yung mga mata ko at huminto sa lalaking pamilyar. His face matched the photo that Eustace gave. Agad kong inangkla yung kamay ko sa braso ni Zyan. I felt him froze pero hindi ko na ‘yun pinansin.

“Let’s go, hon,” I teased him saka siya umiwas ng tingin.

Agad naming nilapitan yung lalaki who is drinking alone. Alone ba kaya?

“Mr. Gregorio?” I approached him first.

“Yes?” he replied saka niya binaba yung dala niyang baso ng alak.

“I’m Courtney Gomez,” pakilala ko saka nilahad yung kamay ko. “And this is my husband, Miguel Gomez,” turo ko kay Zyan. He handed out his hand.

“Nice to meet you,” sabi niya. “What can I do for you?”

Step 1, done. Now that he knows our fake identity, we'll carry on with the plan. So far so good.

“We heard that you are known to be the best in the field of chess,” nakangiting sabi ni Zyan.

Oh wow! Now he’s smiling! This is once in a million years!

Sobrang seryoso kasi nito kaya nung tipid siyang ngumiti sa akin. Kaya siguro napalunok ako.

“Oh,” Gregorio chuckled. “I’m not the best, no.”

Pa-humble pa lolo niyo. I heard chess players' are arrogant. Yun lang yung narinig ko. Hindi ko naman g-in-eneralize ha. Hindi naman siguro lahat.

“And rumor said that you give anything to someone that beats you,” dagdag pa ni Zyan.

“True,” he smirked. “Are you challenging me?”

“If you are willing to spare some time, may be we can?” Zyan asked.

“Sure. I won’t back out,” he smiled arrogantly. “This way.”

He leads the way as we follow behind him. Kinakabahan akong sumunod sa kanya pero wala na akong oras para kabahan pa.

I still stayed close with Zyan. Naka-angkla pa rin yung kamay ko sa braso niya— parang mag-asawa lang. Nanginginig yung mga kamay ko not until I felt Zyan's hand wrapped against mine.

"It's okay," he whispered.

Tumango ako at huminga ng malalim. Don't worry Britta, matatapos din 'to. Makakauwi ka na din. There's no place for mistakes now kaya chill lang.

“Nice one,” I heard Cosmo says on the other line.

Pumasok kami sa isang tipikal na madilim na kwarto. Well hindi naman siya totally dark. It looks elegant. The room looks like a room for a rich guy which is totally true. Madilim lang talaga siya dahil tanging night light lang yung nagsisilbing liwanag.

“Sorry,” Gregorio apologized. “Hindi ako nakapaglinis.”

Pinulot niya yung throw pillow na nasa sahig saka binalik sa couch. In-arrange niya rin yung flower vace na nakaupo sa center table.

“It’s fine,” I replied.

He turned on the light switch saka niya kami giniya sa loob. “Please, make yourself feel at home.”

I forehead narrowed because of his actions. I don’t get it. Bakit sobrang bait niya? Nakakakonsensya tuloy na kumuha ng pag-aari niya.

Maybe ganito lang talaga siya sa mga bisita? We are his visitors afterall. Saka hindi niya siguro nakita yung masamang intensyon namin?

Bakit parang kami yung bad guys sa pelikula tapos ini-scam namin ang isang inosenteng tao jusy for our selfish gains.

Nagulat nalang ako nang biglang may pumasok na mga lalaking nakaitim na suit. Naguguluhan akong napalingon kay Gregorio.

“What is this all about?” tanong ko.

“I just want to make sure that I get what I want,” nakangisi niyang sabi.

Oops. Mali pala ako. Akala ko mabait siya pero nagkakamali ako. He is not the goody-two shoes that I thought he was. May tinatagong kadiliman din pala— like everyone else.

Looking at his smirk now makes me wanna punch his face. Manipulative jerk. Akala ko totoo na yung ipinakita niya kanina. It was his only his front. I'm like staring at a different person now. Grabe yung control na ginawa ko ngayon. Sarap na talaga sapakin.

Easy lang Britta.

There is no place for mistakes nga diba? Kaya chill lang.

“What do you want?” naguguluhan na tanong ni Zyan.

“Totoo yung rumors that anyone can get anything if they win against me,” he paused. “Same goes when I win against you.”

“So you’ll get anything you want?” I asked.

“Yeah. Anything I want,” he smiled. “You started challenging me, now there is no turning back,” sabi niya at umupo sa upuan kung saan may nakahandang chess board.

“I’m not turning back,” kabado na sabi ni Zyan. “I’m no coward.”

“This game excites me!” ngiti niya hanggang tenga.

Kahit naguguluhan na ako ay nakatayo lang ako sa likuran ni Zyan. Wala akong knowledge sa chess kasi hindi ko talaga ito maintindihan. Yumuko ako sa tenga ni Zyan.

“Hoy! Alam mo ba kung paano maglaro nito?” bulong ko sakanya.

“Relax, I can handle it,” he arrogantly replied. Is he bragging? Tsk. Edi siya na!

Kung matatalo kami nang dahil sa kanya iwan ko nalang talaga kung ano yung magagawa ko sa kanya.

Habang tumatagal ay mas kinakabahan ako. Alam niyo yung feeling na kapag kinakabahan parang matatae? Yun yung nararamdaman ko ngayon. Tumae naman ako before kami humayo. Pinigilan ko nalang yung sarili ko habang nakatayo sa likuran ni Zyan.

“So what do you want if you win?” Tanong ni Zyan. “I got to tell you first that I don’t own much.”

Nacurious din ako kung ano yung gusto ni Gregorio. He have everything na kasi. Mayaman na. Hindi na niya kailangan ng pera.

I heard that he wants asset from his opponent na wala sa kanya. 'E anong asset naman ang meron si Zyan?

“I only want one night,” diretso niyang sagot..

I looked at him confused saka ako tumingin kay Zyan na nakakunot yung noo.

“One night?” he asked.

Lumaki yung ngisi niya sa labi. He licked his lower lip before slightly biting it. Dahan-dahang lumakbay yung mga mata niya sa akin hanggang sa magtagpo yung mga mata namin.

“Oo. One night,” he paused. “With your wife.”

Whut?

Agad nanlaki yung mga mata ko saka nagsintindigan yung mga balahibo ko. You dirty little pervert!

Pinasadahan niya ng tingin yung katawan ko— fron head to toe. Agad akong kinilabutan matapos niyang gawin. My urge right now is to punch him hard on the face pero pinigilan ko yung sarili ko.

Nakita ko kung paano nagtiim-bagang si Zyan habang nakatingin kay Gregorio. Sarap talaga sapakin ng taong ‘to!

“s**t! Zyan don’t fail us!” rinig kong sabi ni Cosmo sa kabilang linya.

I can hear Cosmo throwing cusses on the other line. Ako din. Grabe na rin yung mura ko sa isip ko.

If Zyan don't do well.

I’m screwed.